Society News

Ségolène Royal, former partner of French President Francois Hollande and environment minister in his cabinet, refuses to be drawn into the storm triggered by the publication Thursday of a kiss-and-tell memoir by her former rival. Duration: 00:45Sep 5, 2014

The parents of critically-ill British boy Ashya King fought for custody of the five-year-old on Thursday, having walked free from jail after prosecutors dropped cruelty accusations against them.Sep 5, 2014

Ukraine's security spokesman Andryi Lysenko set out Kiev's hopes for a ceasefire Thursday, including the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the territory of Ukraine and the release of all Ukrainian hostages. Duration: 00:47Sep 4, 2014

Standing in front of the crumbling control tower of Gaza's devastated airport, one-time air traffic controller Anis Arafat dreams of the day planes will land and take off here again. Duration: 02:45Sep 4, 2014

NATO troops carry out military exercises in Germany and Poland ahead of the NATO summit which began Thursday, billed as the most important since the Cold War amid calls to stand up to Russia over Ukraine. Duration: 00:38Sep 4, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Defence experts said on Thursday that al Qaeda’s announcement of the formation of a wing of the militant group in India and its neighbourhood is a propaganda ploy aimed at attracting local youth to the organisation. Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri on Wednesday announced the formation of an Indian branch of his militant group he said would spread Islamic rule and “raise the flag of jihad” across the subcontinent. Internal Security Expert Ajay Sahni said such videos have been released in the past as well. Defence Expert Afzal Kareem dismissed it as a big threat. Meanwhile, Uday Bhaskar called for decoding the video by intelligence agencies.Sep 4, 2014

Jammu, Sep 04 (ANI): At least 50 people were feared dead when a passenger bus carrying a marriage party was washed away in flash floods triggered due to incessant rain in Nowshera region of Rajouri district on Thursday. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Shantmanu said that more than 50 passengers were there in the bus, out of which only 3 have come out safely. He also said that rescue operation is underway, but it's becoming difficult as the bus fell into a deep gorge. The tragedy took place some 30 kms away from main township of Nowshera when a bus ferrying a marriage party was washed away in a local rivulet 'Lam' this morning.Sep 4, 2014

Amethi, Sep 04 (ANI): Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited his parliamentary constituency Amethi on Thursday and slammed the NDA government over its 'failure' even after completing its 100 days. Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that he is busy playing drums in Japan while not caring about price rise and corruption back in India. Gandhi also said that the NDA government failed to fulfill its promise of bringing the prices down or fighting against corruption etc. the Congress vice president arrived in Amethi early in the day and interacted with the villagers and assured that he will take up the issue of water and power crisis with the state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.Sep 4, 2014

Chennai, Sep 04 (ANI): Believed to be increasing the Navy's coastal surveillance, its largest offshore Patrol Vessel, INS Sumitra was formally commissioned by Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Robin Dhowan on Thursday, in Chennai. The vessel has been built on in-house design of Goa Shipyard Ltd., a state-owned shipyard. Fourth in its class, the vessel will be based at Chennai under the operational control of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral RK Dhowan said that the vessel will have an indigenous role to play in the patrolling of India's eastern seaboard and form an important part of the NOIC. The latest generation warship will have a displacement of about 2,200 tonnes. The ship is also designed to operate on Advanced Light Helicopter.Sep 4, 2014

Badaun, Sep 04 (ANI): A district court on Thursday granted bail to rest of three accused in the Badaun rape and murder case. The court heard the plea of the three accused, Pappu, Awadhesh and Urvesh Yadav, who were brothers, and later granted them bail on Rs 2 lakh each. Earlier, all the five accused in the case had passed the lie detector test and two of the accused had been granted bail following the same.Sep 4, 2014

Srinagar, Sep 04 (ANI): Briefing about the ongoing flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the state Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said that the government’s priority is safety of people. He said that arrangements are being made for the rescue of people and to provide shelter for the stranded people. He announced that government as well as private schools and colleges will remain closed for 3 days in wake of incessant rainfall. Chand also said that temporary shelters are provided to those who had to leave their houses and food supplies are being provided. He also said that army and other officials are also helping the administration in rescue work and that things will be tackled effectively by the state.Sep 4, 2014

Mumbai/ New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday arrived in national capital Delhi while on his two-day visit to India. Abbott was received by Power Minister Piyush Goyal and other dignitaries at the airport. He is scheduled to meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. Earlier, while attending an event at Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai, Abbott said that cricket brings people together. The event also saw the gracious presence of former Australian cricketers, Brett Lee and Adam Gilchrist, and former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Meanwhile, Tendulkar said what sport teaches, cannot be learnt within the four walls of a classroom.Sep 4, 2014

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): After the central cabinet met at South Block on Thursday, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that the cabinet decided to release dearness allowance hike from 100 percent to 107 percent. The decision will benefit around 30 lakh Centre's employees and its 50 lakh pensioners including dependents. The cabinet meet also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his successful Japan visit.Sep 4, 2014